Deepwater oil drilling and storage craft



F. N. NELSON DEEPWATER OIL DRIL Jan. 11, I955 LING AND STORAGE CRAFT 4 Sheds-Sheet 1 Filed June 21, 1949 Snnen tor fkE N/VELJON M attorney al l 5 2201 houhowon' o o n nol 0 o 0 0 o o :34 f o o n o ol o 04 lo 0 0% o Jan. 11, 1955 F. N. NELSON 2,699,321

DEEPWATER on DRILLING AND STORAGE CRAFT iled June 21,1514? 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 PI M "hr! H \5 R i xv M 5? 9 a? MN I" 1" Q ,L L{' I 2% m; i II I Q w I w I k |I W 1 II m ll,

Sn entor F950 N. NELSON Gtforneg Jan. 11, 1955 F. N. NELSON DEEPWATER OIL DRILLING AND STORAGE CRAFT 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 21, 9 9

JON

Jan. 11, 1955 F. N. NELSON 2,699,321 DEEPWATER OIL DRILLING AND STORAGE CRAFT Filed June 21, 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 3nventor FEED N. NELSON attorney United States Patent 2,699,321 DEEPWATER OIL DRILLING AND STORAGE CRAFT Fred N. Nelson, Seattle, Wash. Application June 21, 1949, Serial No. 100,433 13 Claims. (Cl. 2552.5)

This invention relates to deep water oil-drilling and whereby offshore, submerged lands, ex-

Continental f water as required for human consumption and all other facilities as a harbor of refuge for weather.

Another object of the invention is drilling and storage means of pivot or anchor member to the drilling location, and can be used also as a super pile-driver for settling the anchor means in place and, by reverse operation, can be used for lifting the anchor for transportation from one to an other drilling location.

Yet another object of the serve as an integral part of the main hull, or may be floated out for various uses, or to permit the floatingor otherwise handling of parts constituted inthe anchor member.

It is also an object to stated which upper section of the anchor pivot in shallow water, and from the base section thereof be fully described. In accomplishing the above mentioned and other ob- Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the vessel on line 3-3 in Fig. 1, particularly showing the disposition of the drydock barge in the bay of the main hull.

' 4 is a vertical cross-section, taken on line 44 and preparatory to settling the base or footing of the anchor member onto the ocean floor.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the floating vessel, showing the drydock barge partially removed from the bay of the main hull.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, vertical section along the bow portion of the floating breakwater, showing the anchor pivot, comprising well of the vessels hull; the footing or base, as settled on the ocean floor for deep-water drilling and the built-in intermediate truss structure joining the footing and upper structure.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged section taken substantially on the line 7--7 in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section on line 88 in Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a detail showing a type of locking dog for the securement of the drydock-barge in its bay.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged, horizontal section on line 10-10 in Fig. 6.

Fig. 11 is a view illustrating the application of a base and extension to the upper section of the anchor member.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view of an outlet tube for directional drilling operations.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken substantially along the plane of line 1313 of Fig. 12.

lgig. 14 is a view of the modified form of shaft shown in ig. 4.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

The present structure, as was previously stated, comprises a rigid anchor member and structure For a better understanding of the character of above patent, with respect to its stability in the sea unsuch, for example, as by use of dogs 20 hinged to pads der all weather conditions, and in so far as the general 21 on the deck of the outer vessel to engage with or features of construction are concerned that provide the over holding plates 22 applied to the barge, as has been breakwater, the protected harbor, storage space and shown in Fig. 9.

housing for the various utilities required for the present wh h l ki d are di d the d operation. For better understanding of the character of barge may be floated and backed out of the bay 10. the floating vessel, it is anticipated that it shall have an Removal of the vessel 12 from the bay 10, partially or overall length of about 1000 feet, an extreme width at entirely, is principally to provide for the floating and the amidships wings of about 250 feet, and a total assembling of parts of the anchor structure into place at height of about 70 feet, that is, 30 feet maximum draft the forward end of the bay, as will presently be exand 40 feet freeboard. plained.

By r f r m p i l rly it Will be At the forward or closed end of the bay 10 there is understood that the floating vessel is of the character of formed a steel-plate, semi-cylindrical and vertically dia hull, here shown to be of unitary construction, but rected seat 23. Likewise, the forward end of the drywhich may, if desired, be made in any number of indidock-barge 12 is formed with a similarly shaped comvidual sections, secured together as a unitary structure. plemental and opposedly related semi-cylindrical seat This vessel, designated in its entirety by reference nu- 24; this being formed from steel plates and equipped meral 2, comprises a bottom 3 (see Figs. 2 and 4) and with lateral wings 24 whereby it is bolted to the foropposite side walls 4-4 which curve toward each other ward end of the barge. When the drydock-barge is as they approach the bow to form a prow that is especiallocked in place in the bay 10, as in Fig. l, the two seats,

1y designed as a breakwater. These side walls, extend- 23 and 24, together provide an open, cylindrical well 26 ing rearwardly from the prow, terminate about midway through the floating vessel 2, axially coinciding with the between stem and stern and, as noted in Fig. 4, they apcentral longitudinal plane of the vessel, and adapted to proach the bottom in an outward curve, thus to cause contain therein the vertical pivot shaft of the anchor the waves and currents that engage them to be upwardly member.

deflected rather than to be deflected downwardly and For better understanding of the construction, purpose beneath the vessel. Other walls, 5-5, are arranged and use of the anchor member, it will here be stated that, parallel with and inwardly spaced from the walls 4-4, for deep-water drilling, it comprises three main portions. and extend substantially to the full length of the vessel, These I will hereinafter refer to as the base section, as best shown in Fig. 1. These walls, together with the the upper section and the intermediate section, the bottom 3, define the main hull of the vessel. This is latter two being more or less variable in length, in acequipped with top deck 7 that overhangs the walls 5-5 cordance with depth of water in which the operation is beyond the outboard limits of side walls 4-4, to catch to take place, and join the upper section with the base the waves and spray, as noted in Fig. 3. section.

The present floating structure thus comprises the main For shallow water drilling, limited to the minimum hull portion which is defined by the bottom 3 and londraft of the floating main hull, the intermediate section gitudinal walls 5-5 extending from prow to stern, and and the base sections may be omitted and the upper seethe outside or protective hull which forms the forward tion only used for the anchoring of the floating strucend portion and prow of the vessel and which is defined ture. The description immediately following will anby the opposite side walls 4-4 which join with the botticipate and describe the use of an anchor member intom and terminate approximately amidships in outvolving all three parts as assembled for deep-water drillturned wings 4a. The purpose of the out-turned wings ing. Later, the description of use of the upper section 4a is to catch the racers formed by the waves following as an anchoring means will be included. For this dethe breakwater, to throw them outwardly and to leave scription, attention is directed particularly to Figs. 6, protected bays rearwardly of the wings for landing or 7 and 8. loading purposes. The base section, designated in its entirety by numeral It is shown also in Fig. 1 that the side walls 55 of 25, comprises a large, hollow steel pontoon, preferably the main hull terminate at the stern of the vessel in outoval in plan, as seen in Fig. 8 to facilitate transportation,

wardly curved wings Sa-Sa, that give added width to and formed with a flat bottom wall 27 with vertical the sheltered harbor provided by the vessel; it being unmarginal wall 28 and top wall 28a inclined upwardly derstood that this harbor, designated at 8 in Fig. l, is from the marginal wall. At the top, the section is always protected from wind or waves by reason of the equipped with a cylindrical, vertically directed dome fact that the vessel, when anchored, automatically ad- 29. This dome structure extends downwardly through justs itself to head into the wind and waves, as will the pontoon and to the bottom plating thereof. At its presently be apparent. upper end the dome is closed by a deck 30 and there is Between the walls 4-4 and 5--5 are work passages a deck or partition 30 at a lower level setting off a 4x noted in Figs. 3 and 4, and these are suitably drained workroom 31 in the upper end of the dome and another of water, preferably of that kind shown in my U. room 32 in the lower part thereof. Located at spaced Patent No. 2,408,871 and designated in Figs. 3 and 4 intervals about the marginal wall 28, and attached theret 4b, to, at the outside, are collars 35 designed to receive an- Formed in the vessel along its longitudinal center line chor piles 36 therethrough. These collars are attached and extending from the stern end, and well into the to the wall by bolts 37 that may be tightened from withforward or breakwater portion, as best shown in Fig. 5, in the pontoon to clamp the collars about the piles. It is a bay 10, within which an elongated, buoyant vessel is also the intent that this hollow base structure shall 12 is normally locked. be adequately stiffened by internal bracing, as indicated This vessel 12 is in the form of a floating drydockat 39 in Fig. 6, to withstand external water pressure.

barge and is equipped at its opposite ends with gates It is also intended that it shall be provided with water- 14-1 and hlnged thereto as at 15 and 1511 tight compartments and also with means whereby the to swing from closed to open positions for entry or leave compartments ma be flooded or pumped out h n h of smaller vc S6l th6 '6 0m is desired. The lower end of the cylindrical compart- The vessel 12 is of buoyant constructlon and is d ment formed by the downward extension of the dome signed to be floated into the bay 10, to serve after th encloses the work space 32, and provision has been made ffishlon Of a fetalllmg QY 111 a Y Y, and 1t whereby directional drilling operations may be consigned to be contained with slight wedging effect in the d t d fr thi other compartments f the b e y and it is Provided 011 its pp Side Walls 1261- structure throu h s eciall desi ned outlets re e tl t 12a of its hull with horizontal keys 16-16, as shown in b d ib g p y g p s n y 0 Fig. 3, adapted to be received in keyways 17-17 formed The upper section of the anchor member, designated on the sides of the bay 10, thus to hold the vessel 12 in in its entirety by reference numeral 42, comprises a cylina definite relationship to the main vessel. At its fordrical, vertically disposed housing adapted to be conward end the vessel 12 has flat, inwardly and forwardly g0 tained in the vertical well 26 provided through the hull i li ed urfa 18 18 at opposite ide ee Fig, 5) of the main vessel 2, with sufficient clearance between adapted to engage against similarly inclined surfaces them for easy rise and fall of the vessel relative to the 19-19 at the closed end of the bay. When the drypart 42 when it is serving in its connection with the andock-barge 12 is in place in the main vessel, it is norchor member.

mally locked against displacement by suitable means The cylindrical member 42 is of steel plate construction and is closed at its upper end by a deck 43. At its lower end it has a flared skirt portion 44 bolted thereto. This skirt portion, during transportation of parts as presently describe is adapted to be received in a conically tapered recess 45 formed in the bottom of the veshe upper end of the cylinder. A platform 50 is built he upper end deck of the cylinder 42 and on this a derrick 52 of typical or suitable kind is erected for handling the drilling rigging and materials. The deck 43 and platform 50 do not project beyond the diametrical limits of the cylinder 42; thus they may, if necessary, pass down into the well 26 with the lift of the main vessel under influence of a rising tide.

The diameter of the lower end of the cylinder 42 is such that the cylindrical dome portion 29 of the base section may be received therein, as in Fig. 4, for a reason sively built up on the base structure, to be lowered, under control, by partly or wholly flooding selected compartments thereof. The manner of erecting or building the intermediate structure will now be described.

tight collars 61 that are applied to openings in the decks 43 and 46 of the upper section 42. he pilings continue downwardly and through metal tubes 62 welded into the base structure, passing through the upper deck 30 of the dome 29, through the deck 30 and finally through the bottom 27. After passing through these vertical tubes, the piles 60 may extend some distance below the bottom continues until ocean floor, and the anchor shaft sary vertical length to support the upper end section 42 at proper distance above water level.

Using a drilling location at intermediate depth, for

as in Fig. 6, section 42 to the bottom plate 27 of the base 25. The duct 70 serves as a work shaft for the operation of elevators, also as a ventilator shaft and as escape and access trunks. Radiating from the parts 65 and 70 to the tubular pilings 60 are truss-like braces 66, shown only in the lower part of Fig. 6, but omitted from the remaining part to avoid confusion, whereby the ture are joined as a unitary, rigid anchor post which is fixed at its lower end in the base 25,'and at its upper end carries the cylindrical section 42. It is preferred that the duct 70 be made as shown in Fig. 10 wherein it is noted that a plate 70a divides it vertically and the plate is welded along one edge to the pipe 65.

Instead of moving the assembled base and upper end sections to a drilling location while held by their own buoyancy in the well 26, these parts may, especially for purpose of long-distance transportation, be floated into the drydock-barge upon opening the stern gates, which are then closed. The vessel may be propeller or towed to a place of drilling and anchored. Then, to assemble from the bay 10, as in Fig. 5, detached and lifted from the forward end of the barge, opened, and the base 25 with upper disposed thereon as in Fig. 4, floated into position against the semi-cylindrical seat 23 forming one side of the well 26. The end plate 24 is then replaced on the barge 12 and the latter moved into the bay and locked, thus securing the parts in the relationship shown ght of the vessel to be applied falling tide. Holding connection for this purpose can be effected in various ways, for example, by equrpping the Furthermore, guy cables, as at 95, may, if desired or required, be attached to the intermediate tion of currents, tide attached at their outer ends to deck so that they can be tightened or lowered as required.

it is desirable also that the top deck of the breakwater section have formed thereon a protective bulkhead just forwardly of the well 26, to give added protection to workmen on the derrick supporting platform. or adjacent thereto. Such a bulkhead is designated in Fig. l by numeral 96 and it is in the form of a forwardly directed V-shaped wall.

It is anticipated that in shallow water the base section 25 and upper section 42 may be used to anchor the vessel without requiring the building in of the intermediate section. In such case, parts 25 and 42, after being assembled with the vessel 2, and the latter brought to the drilling location, are settled onto the ocean bed and anchored as before described. The vessel 2 then may pivot about and rise and fall with the tide about the upper section 42, as would be apparent in Fig. 2.

if it becomes desirable or necessary to extend the length of the section 42 to provide for greater vertical travel, or to provide a lower workroom, this can readily be accomplished by detachment of the bolted-on skirt portion 44, and adding the necessary plates to the cylindrical body where the skirt was detached. Such an added extension would be formed as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4, and as shown somewhat diagrammatically in full lines in Fig. 14 by numeral 42x. Of course, the usual pilings can be employed in the form shown in Fig. 14, for positive anchoring of the shaft to the sea bottom. The base 25 has a watertight bottom at 25x so that the work rooms can be provided therein.

It is further anticipated that in some instances both the base and intermediate sections may be eliminated and a footing or base applied to the lower end of section 42 as an extension thereof, as has been shown in Fig.

ll, wherein the extension is designated at 42x. This extension is formed with a flared skirt portion 97 with marginal vertical wall plate 98 and bottom 99. This form of construction is mainly to provide convenient work space and facilities for directional drilling within the area of comparatively shallow water where the base structure and intermediate structure are not needed. 'lhus, by the various structures above described, provision has been made for drilling in any depth of water from the minimum draft of the main hull to the maximum resistance of the base section to the hydrostatic pressure of the water at the greater depths.

To adapt the present means to directional drilling op erations through the main vertical shaft 65, it is anticipated that the base section 25, or the extension member shown in Fig. 4 and 11, may be equipped as desired with outlets such as that designated in Fig. 12 and comprised by the tube 100, such tubes are set in the side or bottom walls of the section at the desired angle and welded in wall openings provided therefor. At its inner and outer ends, each tube is equipped with valves, such as at it'll and 102, of special design for the passage of a drill pipe Hi3 and/or casing therethrough, and to permit change in the angular direction of the drill pipe. The drilling apparatus itself may be of the kind or kinds ordinarily used or as modified to adapt it to the present means.

For its propulsion and control, it is proposed that the vessel 2 may be equipped with electric motors mounted for travel on geared tracks to swing about vertical axes; the motors being located in suitable housings in the lateral wing portions Sal-a of the vessel 2. Propeller shafts extend from the motors, and by change in direction of the motor, the direction of thrust of the propeller is changed accordingly. In Fig. 1, a motor at starboard side is designated at 110, and it is to be understood that the motors in the wings at port and starboard sides of the vessel are synchronized in their directional movements.

It is further proposed that the vessel be equipped, either for use as the main propulsion units or as auxiliary units, with enlarged outboard motor type of propulsion units located at the most advantageous places for propulsion or for effecting quick direction changes of the vessel or if such is necessary or desirable to meet storm conditions. Such additional means may be used to assist in riding out storms and to ease the strain on the anchoring means.

It is desirable also that the floating breakwater and storage vessel be equipped with divers batches, and all the necessary equipment to carry on whatever diving operations may be necessary or desirable. In the present instance, diving hatches are designated in Fig. 1 by numeral 115.

It is further anticipated that the work duct 70 will be equipped at the top with safety ventilators essentially like that shown in my U. S. Patent No. 2,397,684 and that safety ventilators, flush with decks or bulkheads, will also be used where required for ventilation of all parts of the structure, hull, tanks and compartments.

It is further to be explained that the present inventive concept is readily applicable for use in the building and anchoring of off-shore floating harbor installations, such as breakwaters, docks, etc., of the character of those described and illustrated in my U. S. Patent No. 2,408,871,

by providing the floating structures, as shown therein, with wells for containing anchor members or shafts, thus permitting the floating structures to rise and fall with the tide, while anchored at a definite location.

Means and methods of this kind will provide for the drilling of wells up to depths far beyond any possible by present day methods, and are especially adapted for oil drilling on the continental shelf of the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, the Persian Gulf, the offshore oil lands of California, the Indonesian islands, and in many other places, it being understood that insofar as ordinary drilling procedure is concerned, this is carried on by the derrick 52 and rig that is erected upon the top deck 41 of the section 40. Drill shafts operate through the shaft 65 and the base pontoon 2a, or upper cylinder 42, according to depth of water.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A means for off-shore oil drilling operations comprising a vertical anchor and pivot shaft through which drilling can be effected and including a base section that is adapted to be settled on the ocean floor and fixed thereto, and an upper section fixed rigidly to said base section as an above water support for an oil drilling rig when the base is so fixed, an oil drilling rig on the said upper end section for conducting drilling operations through the shaft, and a floating breakwater and storage vessel anchored by and pivoted freely about said upper section, said base section of the anchor and pivot member being in the nature of a hollow pontoon having floodable compartments therein, pilings applied to the ocean bed about the exterior of the said base section and clamp collars fixed to the base section about the said pilings and means operable from within the base section for releasing or tightening the clamp collars.

2. A means for off-shore oil drilling operations, comprising, in combination, a vertical anchor member, means for fixing said member in an upright position on the ocean floor; said member comprising a base section of hollow pontoon type providing a work room therein through which drilling operations may be conducted when said base is settled onto the ocean floor, a shaft extending vertically upwardly from the base section and enclosed at its upper end with a vertically extending cylindrical housing that is fixed thereto for mounting an oil drilling rig thereon above ocean level, and through which shaft and base section, drilling operations may be conducted, a floating breakwater and storage vessel, formed with a well therethrough, said well being located on the longitudinal center line forwardly of the middle of the vessel, said well rotatably containing the cylindrical housing at the upper end of said shaft therein when the anchor member is fixed at location, for free turning of the vessel thereabout and for vertical sliding to automatically head into wind and waves and permitting rise and fall of the ship relative thereto with rise and fall of tides and an oil drilling rig mounted on the upper end of the said cylindrical housing.

3. A means for ofi-shore oil drilling operations comprising, in combination, an anchor and pivot member comprising a base section of hollow pontoon form adapted to be settled onto the ocean floor and to be anchored thereto, an upper section in the form of a vertical cylindrical housing adapted for mounting a drilling rig thereon, and an intermediate section joining the base section with the upper section for the upright support of the upper section; said intermediate section comprising a shaft made up of a plurality of piles arranged parallel to each other and circularly about a central axial drill tube and rigidly braced therefrom, a breakwater and storage vessel formed with a well therethrough for containing the upper section of the anchor member therein for free turning and rise and fall of the vessel on the same means on the said base section for rigidly securing the anchor and pivot member to the ocean floor, and a drilling rig mounted on the upper end of the said cylindrical housing and comprising means for use in conducting a drilling operation through the drill tube.

4. A means for off-shore oil drilling operations as recited in claim 3 wherein the said base section is equipped with vertical tubes therethrough for passage of the piling therethrough into the ocean floor and the said upper section is formed with openings for receiving the pilings therethrough in building up the intermediate sections.

5. In an off-shore oil drilling means, a vertical anchor and pivot member adapted to be settled onto and equipped to be received in said key ways, and means is provided ing to claim to secure the barge in the bay.

7. A means for 01T-shore drilling operations according to claim 5 wherein said vessel is provided with propul aid in control and turning of the vessel.

An off-shore oil drilling means comprising an anchor and pivot member, including a buoyant base section, with pivot shatt thereon, fixed to the ocean floor to cause said shaft to extend vertically as a support for an above water oil drilling rig, and a breakwater and storage vessel, formed with a bay opening to the stern of the ship and a floating dry-dock'barge removably fitted in said bay 307,861 the forward end of the barge and the forward end of 480,127 the bay being formed with vertical, semi-circular re- 616,567 cesses that are registered to form a vertical well through 676,993 the vessel freely containing the anchor and pivot mem- 819,317 ber therein for free turning and rise and fall of the vessel 873,069 thereon; said dry-dock-barge being adapted to contain 1,048,194 said anchor and pivot member therein and having its 2,171,672 forward end wall removable for floating the said anchor 40 2,248,051 and pivot member therefrom into the well. 2,308,743 9. A means for offshore oil drilling operations coin- 2,429,952 piising an anchor and pivot shaft having a hollow longi- 2,503,516 tudinally theieof through which oil drilling operations can be conducted, means attached to the shaft for fixing it in upiight position on the ocean floor, said shaft being 516,047 of such length as to extend above the ocean level when 670,470

pulsion means to aid in control and turning of the vessel.

11. A means for off-shore drilling operations according to claim 9 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Leonard et al. Nov. 11, ORourke Aug. 2, Brown Dec. 27, McFadden June 25, Shrewsbury May 1, McLeod Dec. 10, Mitchell Dec. 24, Plummer Sept. 5, Armstrong July 8, Bulkley et a1. Jan. 19, Willey Oct. 28, Shrewsbury Apr. 11,

FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Jan. 16, Germany Jan. 16,

A means for off-shore drilling according to claim 12 wherein said base section is equipped with vertical tubes therethrough for the passage of piling. 

